The Town of Osoyoos is always a friendly place, but there will be more goodwill and kindness than usual on Friday at a couple of local businesses taking part in the inaugural Random Act of Kindness (RAK) Day.
The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan /Similkameen is getting involved in promoting this new event. About a dozen other community foundations in Canada will also be participating in the RAK Day.
The purpose of this event is to boost community spirit, increase connectedness between citizens, promote being nice to fellow citizens and increase the feelings of gratitude among citizens, said Sarah Trudeau, regional development co-ordinator with the Community Foundation of South Okanagan/Similkameen.
“We will be printing several hundred posters and about 3,000 RAK cards. RAK cards are essentially pay it forward cards that a person carries with them on the day,” said Trudeau. “When you perform an RAK for someone, you give the recipient an RAK card and tell them that you’ve just been touched by a Random Act of Kindness. Please pay it forward.”
Participants will ask people involved to let the public know they have performed a random act of kindness by posting it on social media.
In Osoyoos, chartered accountant Jane Long and local chiropractor Dr. Martha Collins have both signed up to participate in the Random Act of Kindness Day.
Long will be hosting a food and toy drive on Friday. She will be donating one dollar for every pound of food and toys brought in to her office on 85th Street behind O’ Delights Café on Main Street.
All food donations brought in will be forwarded to the Osoyoos Food Bank and the toys will be donated to local holiday and Christmas hampers.
The money that Long will donate will go towards buying turkey and ham dinners for the Christmas hampers, which will be handed out to families in need in Osoyoos.
Long is also looking to organize a similar event at her Oliver office location on Main Street in the Dance Studio building, with all proceeds going to the Oliver Food Bank and Oliver families.
“I will also have my staff out in the street performing random acts of kindness,” said Long.
Collins will be offering free chiropractic care to patients throughout the day from the time her office opens at 7 a.m. until close of business Friday afternoon.
There are also several other Osoyoos residents “who wish to remain anonymous” who will engage in random acts of kindness throughout the day on Friday, said Long.
The hope is for this to become an annual event and for more businesses and citizens across the region to get involved, said Aaron McRann, executive director of the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan/Simikameen.
“We live in an amazing region where so much kindness happens every day. Let’s take a moment to not only recognize when someone does something nice for us, but to also do something nice in return,” said McRann.
The RAK cards have been circulated in all towns and communities across the South Okanagan and Similkameen, said McRann. The cards will encourage the cardholder to perform a simple act of kindness for someone – a neighbour, a friend, a co-worker, or someone they don’t even know – and hand the card over to that person – encouraging him/her to do the same.
“Businesses are getting involved and challenging other business to perform a RAK in their community,” said McRann.
“We want every community in our region to get involved with this feel good event. It’s easy and doesn’t have to cost you anything; it can be as simple as holding the door open for someone.”
Once you have received a RAK or performed a RAK you are encouraged to share your experience online at www.rakdaysos.com or via social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram under the hashtag #RAKDAYSOS.
For a list of locations with RAK cards please visit the website at www.rakdaysos.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rakdaysos.
“Random acts of kindness are a wonderful way to touch the life of another person and make our world a better place,” added McRann.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
